Holding breath during labor poll

Olivia - posted on 07/10/2010
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Okay so I gave birth to my daughter all natural at a birth center, when I pushed my midwife told me NOT to hold my breath, she said it put an unnecessary strain on the body. But I am just curious from the women that I have talked to the doctor all told them to hold their breath when they pushed.

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This made me think of something else. When my daughter's head was starting to crown and I felt the "ring of fire" my doctor told me to push through that. That's when I tore. I read later that when you feel that burning it's nature's way of telling you to stop. You're supposed to let the head slowly stretch the skin instead of pushing it out. It makes me wonder what the hell doctors DO know since the things they told me to do were wrong. I switched doctors after my daughter was born.

I think I exhaled with growling (I like that Yvonne) as I pushed - I could not have held my breath I need to breathe all though I don't think I inhaled during the pushing.

Jen I was yelled at for screaming too and for and yelling 'she's going back up, she's going back up' (I had called the baby a he up until then because I did not know what we were having - and he turned out to be a boy) lol.

Jodi I thought I was the only one everyone looks at me as if I came down in the last rainstorm when I say the pushing did not hurt and that it was actually a relief (after my 45 min labour) :-)

Mate who can push and not hold their breathe at the same time? Well maybe a controlled breathing out as one growls and pushes. (I think they call it grunting, but I think growling is a better word.) lol

lol, Kati! If only we could just walk out and go home. Maybe try again the next day when we're rested. I did grunt a little while pushing. During hard labor I didn't talk or even open my eyes. My eyes stayed shut until the baby was out. Then I opened them to see what felt like a million people staring at my vagina. lol

The only part about pushing that hurt for me was the "ring of fire." Once her head was almost out I was numb which was good because I tore a little. I didn't really feel complete "relief" until the rest of her was out. That was the best feeling ever! lol

I was told to stop pushing for so long *stupid midwife* that when they actually realised I was serious about this baby coming out they told me just push when ever I was ready.

I didn't even wait for the contractions, I just pushed before they had time to change their minds ! 3 quick pushes and she was completely out.... I think I held my breath while I pushed but not at anyone's suggestion.

you guys are crazy when you say it didn't hurt, lol!!! i've also heard people say it was like bad menstrual cramps, which was not at all what it was like for me. i felt like my abdomen was turning itself inside out from the back forward. it was nothing like cramps, and yes it hurt like hell, lol!!

i was told to take a deep breath in and then push, so i did. i did the panting thing when both were born so i didn't tear. i know i was told during labor not to hold my breath when having contractions to breath slow and normally, which i did while bouncing on my birthing or exercise ball

Jodi I agree it was hardwork but not painful to push, the contractions before I got to the pushing were painful though - I'm thankful for gas and air. I never realised I even had some of the muscles I used that day :-)

I do not know how anybody could NOT breath during pushing - I could not have inhaled but I definately had to exhale to push because it was major physical exertion for me :-)

If you take a deep breath, you can let it out while you push...at least that's what I did.

And I agree with Jodi too, I didn't think labor was bad. My spouse was blown away by how easy I thought it was. He thought I would be begging for drugs, but I didn't want them and didn't get them. I thought the pregnancy was ten times worse than the labor.

Quoting Toni"Jodi I thought I was the only one everyone looks at me as if I came down in the last rainstorm when I say the pushing did not hurt and that it was actually a relief (after my 45 min labour) :-)"

I never realised it was usually painful for people to push. I have no idea why no pain, but there really wasn't. It was bloody hard work, but I honestly can't remember any pain at all, just exhaustion and relief. Even when they were telling me not to push yet and I had to pant my way through the real physical need to push I don't recall any pain. I had no drugs, so it wasn't that :) But, I do remember grunting/growling, and that was more because of the effort. It was totally involuntary.

seriously though ladies tell me how you can't hold your breath while pushing? there's no way. you use your abdominal muscles to breathe right? you can't use them to breathe and push at the same time, it's impossible (at least what i'm invisioning is, lol)!! you take a deep breath and then push while exhaling, which they ususally counted to 10 each time for me. when i was to ten, i'd start breathing again until the next contraction came. i'm not being facecous (sp?) i am just genuinely curious how you can breathe and push at the same time.

I wasn't actually told anything about breathing... and I remember breathing out slowly when I was pushing and breathing inbetween pushes and my dr seemed fine with that... I really don't remember my first pushing experience much at all..

I was told not to hold my breath and I definately didn't have any urge to. And for the girls that were talking about catheters, I had one when I was having my first baby because I was unable to drain my bladder but it was so full that it was stopping me from progressing any further. As soon as they inserted it and drained by bladder, I started progressing again and was done in no time.

I was told not to hold my breath. I was supposed to continue breathing. That was my spouses job, to keep me breathing. Deep breaths when I could, and panting when I couldn't.I'm actually surprised that you guys were told not to yell. I didn't yell, because it seemed silly. But they never told me that I couldn't.I had a cath because I was having complication and not allowed out of bed, but they removed it when I was 9cm.

I was told by my midwives not to hold my breath. I did though, unfortunately. It made me constantly emit this very high pitched squealing sound that apparently only I could hear. It was like I was blowing a vuvuzela in my own ear that was audible to no one else. That and I also had a 4th degree tear. I plan to find a way to breathe if I do it again. Or I'll go with Megan's plan and hold my breath enough that I just pass out.

I kept holding my breath and the nurses and doc gave me heck for it...I wasn't trying to but they told me that it makes it harder to push past the pain. I don't know. Maybe in the back of my mind I was hoping I would pass out!

i got thinking momre about this trying to relive it all, and you have to hold your breath while pushing. you use your abdominal muscles to push, and breathe. so while they were making sure i was breathing appropriately between pushes, u kindof have to hold it to push, don't you? i can't see any other way, unless i'm a weird pusher, lol!!

I had my son at a hospital all natural (and only at a hospital instead of at home because I was a little nervous.) I was told (yelled at really) to hold my breath. I was told to hold for the three counts of ten or whatever, not to yell aloud etc. When Michael wasn't coming and the pain took over I did things my way and he was born within minutes. Needless to say the next one will definitely be at home.

I wasn't told anything. I pretty much just went with what felt natural, and asking me now, I can't remember if I breathed or not, I just pushed when I felt the urge. Interestingly, I do remember the pain stopped when I got to that stage, and while there was a LOT of tightening, I just don't remember any pain.

I wasn't told either way. I think they just expected me to do what felt best, and that's what I did. I don't know whether I did or not, although knowing me and the pain I was in, I was probably holding it just to keep the curse words in :P